noun Uncommon

mer

Mer (noun) means In chemistry, the smallest repeating structural unit in a polymer chain. Example: “Each mer in the polymer chain contributes the same repeating carbon backbone.”

noun

In chemistry, the smallest repeating structural unit in a polymer chain.

"Each mer in the polymer chain contributes the same repeating carbon backbone."

"Chemists calculate a polymer's molecular weight by counting how many mers make up the chain."

How to use mer

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe one repeating building-block unit that gets copied over and over to make a polymer.

When to use it

A technical chemistry term, rarely seen outside polymer science.

Word forms

mers plural, Mers plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Each _____ in the polymer chain contributes the same repeating carbon backbone.

Etymology

A shortening of "polymer" — chemists coined "mer" to name the single repeating unit that, strung together many times, forms the whole polymer.

Rhymes for mer

Khmer

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Frequently asked questions

What does “mer” mean?

The word “mer” means in chemistry, the smallest repeating structural unit in a polymer chain. In plain terms, the one repeating building-block unit that gets copied over and over to make a polymer.

How do you use “mer” in a sentence?

Here is “mer” used in a sentence: “Each mer in the polymer chain contributes the same repeating carbon backbone.”

What part of speech is “mer”?

“Mer” is a noun.

Is “mer” a common word?

“Mer” is an uncommon word in modern English.